[0rion]

Hey guys

How do you work out the oxidation state of a transition metal?

Take AlPO3 for example...

so O is 2-, making it 6-

then im guessing Al is + something and P just makes it equal zero from there (thats how ive been taught)

But how do you work out what Al is? I know it can have multiple valencies, so i dont know how to specify its oxidation state :S

thanks guys

[macman104]

Split them first, if you can into ions, cation and anion.  Find each individual oxidation state, then combine.

Can you split AlPO₃ into a cation/anion pair?

[0rion]

*slaps head* i have now split the molecule...

what is the oxidation state of Al?

[macman104]

What did you split them into, and can you include the charges on the ions?

This is an neutral ionic compound, so the charges of the anion and cation must be equal.